Hand Priming Tool?

[Markus]

I bought a Frankford Arsenal priming tool. Solid steel. Works very well. Has an adjustment for seating depth. Just turn a little wheel a few clicks one way or the other.

Uses its own supplied set of shell holders, which are clones of Lee.

It is about the most expensive seater, but I have no regrets. I do 1000 cases at a time, and don't like interruptions for sideways primers, etc. This one works well.

I've had one for a few months and I am very happy with it. I've broken a few handles on the old round tray Lee autoprime and had a lot of flipped sideways primers with the new Lee autoprime. The rcbs universal works ok but I really prefer the Frankford Arsenal.

 

[kamlooky]

I use an old Lee round unit.
Pretty simple rig and works without much tawt.
I will keep yews'in'er till she breaks.
Then...………?

 

[Markus]

I use an old Lee round unit.
Pretty simple rig and works without much tawt.
I will keep yews'in'er till she breaks.
Then...………?

Then I'll send you spare parts. I have a couple round ones still sitting around somewhere.

 

[ryan]

I used to prime with the Lee round unit, broke a couple, then bought the new square tool which is a complete piece of crap, so it sits on my shelf because I am too cheap to toss it. I then bought a RCBS universal which I really like. Then I bought the other RCBS priming tool that takes the shell holders just because, and I like it as well.
I see that Lee now has another new priming tool, besides the Ergo prime.

 

[6MT]

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[3macs1]

Here's my experience with these two RCBS priming "tools". The first was the hand unit discussed above. Worked fine until I tried to prime .338LM Lapua cases. I called RCBS before I attempted this magnum case. I was told, yes....no problem. It will handle this case with ease. On the 15th case....wack! The pivot, which is made from pot metal, mushroomed flat. End of this tool.

Then I got into .50BMG loading. I got RCBS's large bench mounted unit. On the 5th case, the pivot broke right in two. Again, cheap pot metal components. Now, remember that the CCI BMG primers need to be "flattened" with a second stroke. This operation was too much for the unit. And to make matters worse, when I told what happened to my BMG mentor, he told me that exactly the same thing happened to him. A call to the "famous" RCBS customer service hot line, turned out to be all for nothing. I was told that I had abused the unit. Even though the person I spoke to agreed that the CCI BMG primers need the second stroke.

Long story short... RCBS loading tools are, for the most part, crap.

YMMV

Must be why all of mine have worked just fine for over 50 years in just about every caliper known to man and tens of thousands of rounds
You are not going to find many reloaders here agree with you
To each their own
Cheers

 

[lister]

Thanks for the info, Guys. Seems other than 6MT most agree the RCBS Universal is a good unit.. As long as I don't need another set of shell holders I'm leaning that way....

 

[stubblejumper]

This. I actually have 2, one permanently set up for small primers and the other one for large primers.

Me as well, they work excellent.

 

[6MT]

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[Rod B]

I have been using the same RCBS hand primer for more than 30 years & have yet to encounter any problem with it.

 

[3macs1]

OK, maybe I'll qualify my earlier post. The RCBS hand primer works great. As long as you are using smaller cases. Anything that is larger and puts a little more stress on the pivot, isn't good. The soft metal that is used will fail. And, the larger bench mounted unit has a specialized use in my shop. So, most won't encounter that problem. I guess my experience might just be down to bad luck. But I now use my Co-ax press to prime everything (except for the BMG case).

Much better. It was not their fault you were not using the right tool for the job. They have one for what you need also do they not
You bought a hammer and needed a maul

The RCBS 50 BMG Priming System is the first Bench Mounted Dedicated priming system designed for the 50 BMG. Holding 20 50 BMG primers this system allows the reloader to easily, accurately and sensitively load their unprimed 50 BMG cases preventing potential contamination by oily fingers.
Cheers

 

[6MT]

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[3macs1]

Nope! The damn thing failed because of the use of soft metal at a critical area. (Do you even load the BMG case?) And as far as "the right tool"...? I don't get that comment.

The hand primer was used properly. In fact, I even called RCBS to confirm that it would work with the magnum case. Was told it would. It didn't. Again, the use of soft metal at a critical point. But, lesson learned. If I ever go back to a hand unit, I would try the RCBS unit again. But only use it on small cases.

I seem to remember it worked for 30 rounds ???? before it failed . I remember your post almost a year ago on the shooters forum and like here no one agreed the rcbs unit was junk more like just not capable for your requirement (s)
Any how they make a bench unit that will do the job so why break another hand held because someone at a rcbs call center said it could do the job when you already know it cannot. Smaller stuff it will work just fine
Cheers

 

[Speicher Lane]

Interesting, I load the 7mm Rem mag, 300 and 338 WM and have no issues with RCBS loading LMR primers... having said that I only have the one tool and since I haven't had an issue, I never stopped to look a the mystery metal @ the hinge point.

No comment on the 50 BMG other than the 2 people that i know that have them, prime directly off the press in a single specific action and not using a separate fixture or hand tool

 

[6MT]

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[6MT]

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[3macs1]

I am talking about 2 different units. The hand unit and the bench unit. Thanks for your advice anyways. And there's a lot of agreement on the FCSA forum about the quality (lack of) of the RCBS bench unit.

Now I am confused. I am talking hand unit It was the hand unit that failed for you correct. I remember your other post since it saved mine and I didnot use it on some 338WM after. Our circle is small
No idea on who is saying what on the RCBS bench unit
Cheers

 

[conmaesta]

I have a Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Perfect Seat Hand Primer Seating Tool and I love it. has a dial that let's you adjust seating depth as well, it's a nice feature.

 

[rci2950]

I got a couple lee ones both the same model and both suck. Miss feeds, sideways crushed primers and the hopper likes to jam and make the cover pop off potentially causing a primer spill.

 

[209jones]

Have old round tray lee's still, could use some good lids for them, still have a spare body and a couple of handles and links. Yup, get the odd sideways one. Also have the first version 21st Century that can use the round Lee trays, it is a Cadillac, wanted a second one, they'd quit building it. My 450-400NE got me on a quest for a priming tool that would work with it. RCBS universal, no go, Lee, no go. So tried a RCBS universal anyway, as I thought it may be useful. Tray swapping was not one bit of fun, cases cocked on one side under the jaws, didn't like it. Tried a Hornady, krappy QC on the body, shud have returned it, tried to fix it, tossed it in the end. Kept locking up before primer was seating, plunger was hanging up in the barrel of the tool. Have a Forster bench unit, takes a bit of getting used to, loading tubes takes practice, works well. The RCBS that takes shell holders, works better with the Hornady shellholders with the big hole, they'll go down over the plastic nub, some of my RCBS shellholders won't. I have a new Lee that try as I might, won't feed thru to the plunger, their safety stop lifts up too soon.
I wish 21st Century would build a tray unit.